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FOREWORD
From the 7th to the 10th century, many monks and missionaries left Ireland
for mainland Europe and kept the faith alive on that continent during its
dark ages, when Barbarian invasions from the East resulted in the break-up
of the Roman Empire. Most of these missionaries never returned to their
homeland but endured a lifelong exile known as ‘white martyrdom’.

From the 1570s to the 1680s the Church in Ireland experienced periods of
violent persecution that were in intensity, on a par with what the early
Christians suffered at the hands of the Roman Empire. Nevertheless many
priests returned to Ireland during this period from the continent where they
had been formed and educated. Together with people from all social classes,
clergy and laity they kept the Faith alive in Ireland by shedding their blood
in what was a ‘red martyrdom’.

Tertullian said: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of faith”. In Europe,
populations tended to adopt the state religion over time.
In Ireland however, the vast majority of the population did not do so but
remained steadfast in their faith. The witness of the martyrs must surely
have helped to sustain the Faith in Ireland during this period. What is more,
in the face of terrible injustices, these martyrs are witnesses to the power of
forgiveness and love, which records often show, they freely gave their
persecutors.

When the early Church received the freedom to worship it promoted and
remembered the martyrs, adding their names to the liturgy, celebrating their
feast days and building shrines and churches where they were buried.
Unfortunately commemoration of the Irish martyrs was largely neglected.

This annual novena (see leaflet) seeks to re ignite interest in those martyrs
already honoured by the Church and also to promote the cause of the many
yet to be beatified. We, in the name of Our Lord and King, Jesus Christ,
Prince of Peace and Divine Mercy, pray for forgiveness for all past hatreds
and profound hurts scarring men, women and children resulting from any
violence, abuse or apathy on this island and we offer this novena/prayer-
walk for full healing and reconciliation.

“Glory be to Him, Whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than
we can ask or imagine, glory be to Him, from generation to generation in
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the Church and in Christ Jesus forever. Amen.” Eph.3:20-21.
 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be an affliction,
and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.
Wisdom 3: 1-3

Bishop Patrick Healy and Fr. Conn O’ Rourke

Fr. Conn O’ Rourke was born in 1549 in Breifne of a noble family.
He joined the Franciscan monastery in Dromahaire which his
grandparents helped found and was sent to Europe for study, where he
met Bishop Patrick Healy.

Bishop Healy, one of the first bishops martyred in penal times, was born
c. 1543, became a Franciscan priest and was educated in Spain where he
stood out as a brilliant academic. In 1562 he travelled to Rome and was
appointed as Bishop of Mayo there in 1576. Following time in Spain and
France, he and Fr. Conn O’ Rourke left Brittany dressed as mariners and
landed secretly in Smerwick Co. Kerry.

While travelling to Limerick they were betrayed and Mayor James

Goold imprisoned them. Following a secret trial by martial law with no
opportunity to speak and no jury, Bishop Healy was ordered to take the
Oath of Supremacy. Despite having sharp spines driven through fingers
resulting in amputations and bribes of high office, he refused and was
condemned to death by hanging by Sir William Drury Lord Chief Justice
of Munster.
Before death he addressed bystanders exhorting them to remain faithful.
He was reported to have faced death joyfully and encouraged Fr. Conn
to face death likewise. With Fr. Conn O Rourke, he was publicly hanged
at Kilmallock Co. Limerick on 13th August 1579, the corpses being ill-
treated to intimidate the people. In executing them, the government
broke its own laws requiring two previous convictions for maintaining
papal authority and a trial by jury.
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 He who loves father or mother more than me
is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and he who does not take his cross
and follow me is not worthy of me.
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who
loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matt. 10 37-39
Matthew Lambert, Robert Myler, Edward Cheevers,
Patrick Cavanagh and two unidentified sailors.

1579 in Ireland saw rebellion around the country, beginning with the
landing of James Fitzmaurice in Smerwick Co. Kerry on the 18 th of July,
to proclaim war for defence of the Faith against the State. Revolts against
the Queen’s army occurred in Munster and patches of Leinster and
Connaught.

In July 1580 Viscount Baltinglass of Leinster took up arms for the Pope
but despite some gains in Wicklow, the Irish were defeated and he had
to flee for his life.

He eventually found refuge with Matthew Lambert who fed him and his
chaplain Fr. Rogert Rochford and tried to arrange a safe passage for
them. They were betrayed however and with five sailors: Robert Myler,
Edward Cheevers, Patrick Cavanagh and two unidentified others, were
arrested, imprisoned and hanged, drawn and quartered in Wexford on
the 5th of July 1581, following torture.

At their trial, to all questions about matters of politics and religion,

about the Pope and the Queen, Matthew Lambert gave the simple
answer: “I am not a learned man, I am unable to debate with you, but I
can tell you this, I am a Catholic and I believe whatever Our Holy
Mother the Catholic Church believes.” The sailors too were tortured but
professed their faith despite pleas from their families to retract.

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 “Remember the word that I said to you,
‘A servant is not greater than his master'
If they persecuted me, they will persecute
you; if they kept my word, they will keep
yours also.”
John 15:20

Bishop Dermot O’Hurley

He was born in 1530 in Emly Co. Tipperary into a well-off family. He
studied at Louvain, and then taught as professor of philosophy and
law in Rheims and Rome. Although a layman, in 1581 Pope Gregory
XIII made him Archbishop of Cashel, a position vacant for three
years.

He travelled to Ireland in 1583 and landed in Holmpatrick, Skerries,

but his documents sent separately had been intercepted. He sheltered
with the Baron of Slane, where he was recognised. After Bishop O’
Hurley left for Carrick-On-Suir, Slane was summonsed by Lord Chief
Justices Wallop and Loftus who threatened him. As a result Slane
wrote to Bishop O’ Hurley urging him to return to extricate him from
charges of treason which he did.

On arrival in early October 1583, he was imprisoned in Dublin Castle.

His feet were placed in boots filled with oil and roasted over a fire
but he never recanted. In order to secure the death penalty he
underwent trial by martial law. On the 20th of June 1584, he was taken
early to Hoggen Green (near St. Stephen’s Green) to be hanged in
secret. However a group of archers up early to practise for a
competition, came upon the execution... His final words were: “I am
a priest anointed and also a bishop, although unworthy of so sacred
dignities and no cause could they find against me that might in the
least degree deserve the pains of death, but merely my function of
priesthood, wherein they have proceeded against me in all points
cruelly contrary to their own laws.” His remains were buried in St.
Kevin’s Park Camden Row which became a site of pilgrimage.
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 Margaret Bermingham Ball
Born c. 1515, she married Bartholomew Ball of Balrothery at the age of
15, a leading merchant, who became Bailiff and Mayor of Dublin in
1553. She herself was well known for having established a school and
for giving frequent refuge to priests. A widow in 1568, she was
arrested in 1570 with a priest who had been saying Mass in her house.
Through money and the influence of her son Nicholas (who later
became Lord Mayor and an M.P.) she was freed.

Conflict resulted when Walter her eldest converted to Protestantism

and despite her attempts to influence him by inviting him to dinner
with Catholic intellectuals, remained an avid promoter of his own
beliefs.
During his own time as Lord Mayor, he had Margaret arrested,
dragged through the streets on a hurdle and thrown into prison where
she remained for three years in harsh conditions until her death
around 1584 aged about 70 years.

We are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is

wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an
eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look
not to what is seen, but to what is unseen; for what is seen
is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4: 16-18
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Fr. Maurice MacKenraghty
He was born in Kilmallock living under the patronage of the Earl of
Desmond. However between 1569 to 1573 and 1579 to 1583, Munster was
devastated by the 1st and 2nd Desmond wars. Desmond captured and
sacked Youghal in November 1579 and Fr. Maurice was his chaplain until
his capture on 17 September 1583. He was sent to prison in Clonmel for
two years but his release was secured by a Mr. Victor White who asked
the chief jailor for permission to have the priest say Mass and hear
confessions on Holy Saturday night. The chief jailor however betrayed
them and the house was raided as he was about to say Mass. He escaped,
but upon hearing Victor White was threatened with death, he sent word to
White that he would surrender. White responded that he would prefer ‘to
lose liberty and life’ rather than that the priest should die. But Fr.
MacKenraghty gave himself up.

He was repeatedly asked to renounce the Catholic faith, acknowledge the

Queen and name names of those who had attended the sacraments. On
sentence of death, he advised bystanders to be obedient to the Pope. He
was executed under martial law, with no jury. On the 20th of April 1585, he
was hanged, drawn and beheaded, his head exposed in a prominent place.
keenness of Your justice, and

I consider everything as a loss because of

the supreme advantage of knowing my
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For
Him, I have accepted the loss of all
things and I consider them so much
rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be
found in Him…., depending on faith to
know Him and the power of his
resurrection and the sharing of His
sufferings by being conformed to His
death, if somehow I may attain the
resurrection from the dead
Philippians 3: 8-9a, 9c-11 7
Br. Dominic Collins
Br. Dominic Collins was born in Youghal Co. Cork in 1566. In 1586, he
moved to France where he had a successful military career, notably
refusing a large bribe from Henry of Navarre to return a captured
chateau to the Huguenots.
After moving to Spain he met Fr Thomas White S.J. and in 1598 at 32
years of age, joined the novitiate of the Society of Jesus. During a
plague when many were dying he stayed to nurse colleagues putting
his own life at risk though others reportedly fled.
Following that he was appointed to accompany Fr. James Archer with
the Spanish fleet dispatched by the Spanish King in 1601 to assist the
embattled northern earls O’ Neill and O’ Donnell in their fighting
against the Crown’s forces. After the disastrous defeat of Kinsale,
Collins accompanied the Gaelic chieftain O’ Sullivan Beare to his
stronghold in Dunboy. There in June 1602 a siege resulted in all being
executed except Collins who was transferred to Cork prison. It is
thought that he was kept alive in the hope that his military prowess
would be used against the local resistance. He was exhorted to
renounce the faith and his vocation but refused despite torture and
offers of high ecclesiastical office.
On October 31st, he was marched through the streets and hanged at
Youghal. He spoke so eloquently that the hangman refused to do his
work and a poor fisherman was dragooned. His last words were that
he had come to Ireland to preach the catholic faith.

The message of the cross is

foolishness to those who are
perishing but to us who are being
saved it is the power of God.

1 Cor 1: 18

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The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God and if children then heirs, heirs of God
and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so
that we may also be glorified with him.

Romans: 8: 16-17

Bishop Conor O’ Devany

He was born in Raphoe c. 1532. He became a Franciscan and was
appointed Bishop of Down and Connor on the 27th of April 1582. By
1587, the Dublin government had extended its authority all over
Ireland and was exerting increasing pressure on Ulster. In 1588
Bishop O’Devany was captured and imprisoned during the
deputyship of Sir John Perrot. At the beginning of his time in prison
he was in danger of death from hunger and thirst and was saved
only by the charity of fellow prisoners. He petitioned to be released
in November 1590, which petition was granted probably because
Perrot was himself found guilty of treason and died in the Tower of
London. He was released on the 16 th of November 1590 by Perrot’s
arch enemy Lord Chief Justice Loftus.

The King in 1611 commanded that “there must be a uniform order

set down for the suppression of papistry”. It was then suggested that
it would be well if some titular bishops could be punished in an
exemplary manner, provided it could be made clear that they were
not being punished for strictly religious activities.

His final capture and imprisonment came in early 1611. At his trial
later in 1612, now 80 years of age, Bishop O’ Devany was accused of
having assisted Hugh O’Neill in his treason which resulted in the
battle of Kinsale. However there is evidence against this.

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Fr. Patrick O’Loughran
Born c.1577. He was chaplain to Gaelic chieftain Hugh O’Neill’s
household and participated in the flight of the earls following the
defeat at Kinsale. He spent time studying in Rome and Douai. On his
return to Ireland in 1611 he was immediately arrested and freely
admitted to being a priest. He was imprisoned in Dublin and tried
with Bishop O’Devany though there is no evidence that they had even
met before.
On the 1st of February 1612, the bishop and priest were drawn on carts
to George’s Hill. A crowd of several thousand witnessed the execution
of the two. The old bishop was now nearly 80 years of age. Right up to
the time of execution offers of pardon and preferment were made if
only the prisoners would take the Oath of Supremacy but they
refused. Bishop O’Devany blessed the public and exhorted them to be
constant in the Catholic faith. The purpose of the executions had been
to intimidate the population. However five days after the executions,
Lord Deputy Chichester reported to London:
“how a titular bishop and a priest, being lately executed here for
treason, are thought martyrs and adored for saints.”
Ironically the executions planned to frighten the Catholic population,
stiffened its resolve particularly among the old English and
paradoxically united the old Irish and old English.

Into thy hands I commit my spirit;

thou hast redeemed
me, O LORD, faithful God.
Thou hatest those who pay regard
to vain idols; but I
trust in the LORD.
I will rejoice and be glad for thy
steadfast love.

Psalm 31: 5-7a

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Francis Taylor
He was born c. 1550 in Swords Co. Dublin into an important family and
married well. He was active in civic roles in Dublin for 27 years before
his death. He was a well-known protector of priests. In 1595 he was
elected as Mayor of Dublin. Arrested after a controversial
parliamentary election, he never recanted his faith or took the Oath of
Supremacy. There is no record of a trial. He died on 30th of January 1621
in prison after 7 years in harsh conditions.

Fr. Peter Higgins

He was born in Dublin about 1600. By 1627 he was living in Spain and
probably returned to Ireland to become Dominican Prior of Naas in
the 1630s. During the rebellion of 1641, Fr. Higgins made efforts to
restrain the violent and he sheltered the homeless. He intervened to
save the Protestant rector of Donadea, William Pilsworth, who was
about to be put to the gallows by Catholics and rebuked them for their
unchristian behaviour.

In January 1642 the Earl of Ormond mobilised a Protestant force in

Dublin to strike back at Catholics. Among those taken into custody
was Fr. Higgins whom Ormond tried to save by presenting petitions
from at least 20 Protestants who had known Higgins, urging that his
life be spared. However Sir Charles Coote had him executed without
trial.

At the gallows, Fr. Higgins was offered a chance to deny his faith, but
declined saying: "I die a Catholic and a Dominican priest. I forgive
from my heart all who have conspired to bring about my death. Deo
gratias."

Among the crowd Reverend Pillsworth tried to intervene crying out:

"This man is innocent, this man is innocent. He saved my life." His
words fell on deaf ears. On the morning of 23rd March 1642, Fr. Peter
Higgins was hanged from a gallows reputedly at George’s Hill in
Dublin.
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 Bishop Terence Albert O'Brien,
Dominican
Terence O'Brien was born into a well-off family near Cappamore,
Limerick in 1601. He became a Dominican in 1621 taking the name
Albert and studied in Toledo, Spain, where he was ordained in 1627.
Returning to Ireland, he became the Provincial of the Irish province in
1643. He attended the general chapter of his order in Rome in 1644
where he made known the martyrdom of Father Peter Higgins
mentioned above. On his way home while in Portugal, he learned of
his appointment as co-adjutor to the ailing Bishop of Emly in 1648.

In 1649 the parliamentarians under Cromwell abolished the monarchy

and Cromwell wreaked havoc in Ireland. During the siege of Limerick
in 1651, Ireton the attacking general had made it clear that Catholicism
would not be tolerated after the city fell. Bishop O'Brien, who had
encouraged citizens to resist, was captured as he tended the sick in the
plague house. Tried by court-martial, he was condemned to death. As
he went to the gallows, he spoke to the people: "Do not weep for me,
but pray that being firm and unbroken in this torment of death, I may
happily finish my course." After his death by strangulation his body
was left hanging for three hours and treated with indignity by the
soldiers. They cut off his head and spiked it on the river gate. His body
was buried near the old Dominican priory of Limerick in the grounds
of St Mary's Convent of Mercy.

O LORD, who shall sojourn in thy tent?

Who shall dwell on thy holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly, and does what is
right, and speaks truth from his heart;
who does not slander with his tongue,
and does no evil to his friend,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbour

Psalm 15: 1-3

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Fr. John Kearney, Franciscan
John Kearney was born in Cashel in 1619 of a prominent Catholic
family. Ordained a priest in 1642 after his studies in Louvain, he was
captured on his return to Ireland, but managed to escape. He
ministered as a priest first in Cashel and later in Waterford. In 1653
he was captured again, taken to Clonmel and charged with
functioning as a priest in defiance of the law. Witnesses testified that
he had celebrated and administered the sacraments. He was hanged
on the 11 th March 1653.

Fr. William Tirry

Fr. William Tirry was born in Cork in 1608 into a prominent

merchant family. He joined the Augustinians in 1627 studying in
Paris and Brussels.
He returned to Cork in the 1630s where he was chaplain to his uncle,
the Bishop of Cork and Cloyne. He was captured in Fethard in
County Tipperary in the house of a relative Mrs. Amy Everard
where he had spent several years hiding in seclusion although he
th
used to receive people. He had just vested for Mass on 25 of March
on Holy Saturday 1654, when the soldiers entered the house and
took him under armed escort to Clonmel. From a number of
accounts at the time he was noted for his saintliness before and
during the trial.
He was executed on the 2nd of May 1654 by hanging in Market
Square Clonmel exhorting the people to faithfulness and to belief in
the real presence in the Blessed Sacrament.

And they have conquered him by the blood of the

Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved
not their lives even unto death...
Revelation 12:11

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 St. Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh

Born 1625 Martyred 1st July 1681

Oliver Plunkett was born 1st Nov 1625 of a noble Irish family in
Oldcastle Co. Meath. He went to Rome, where he was a student of the
Irish College. He stayed on in Rome as Professor of Theology from 1647-
1669 because of the oppression in Ireland, during which time his own
family was dispossessed of their land. He finally returned to Ireland in
1670 where in his 10 years as Archbishop he had two periods on the run.
However he still actively reformed the Irish Church in which the
Episcopal presence had been practically non-existent during
Cromwellian times.
He was betrayed by some of his own to agents of the State who bore
false witness against him but he forgave his persecutors. In his final
letter, he wrote:
“I am as innocent of all treason as the child born yesterday... so God
forgive them and I do forgive all who had a hand directly or indirectly
in my death and in my innocent blood.”
On July 1st 1681 he was dragged the 2miles from Newgate prison to
Tyburn.
He was hanged, drawn and quartered. Some of his remains were saved
and his head is now kept in St. Peter’s Church, Drogheda. He was
beatified by Benedict XV in 1920. In 1975, he was canonised a saint by
Pope Paul VI.

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 BEATIFIED IRISH MARTYRS WHO DIED ABROAD

John Roche,

Blessed John Roche, a boatman, died at Tyburn on 30th of August 1588

for helping Blessed Margaret Ward, a gentle-woman, to help a priest
escape. She had visited in the Bridewell prison, Fr. Richard Watson, a
secular priest and had smuggled him a rope, but in making use of it to
escape, he had fallen and broken an arm and a leg. He was gotten away
by Margaret's young Irish serving-man, John Roche, who, to assist the
priest's escape, changed clothes with him and so, was himself arrested.
When charged, both Blessed Margaret and Blessed John refused to
disclose his whereabouts. So they were condemned. "Their feast day is
August 28.

John Carey, Patrick Salmon and Fr. John

Cornelius

Blessed Fr. John Cornelius was born in Bodmin Cornwall, of Irish

parents and graduated from Oxford. He was ordained a seminary priest
on the Continent and became a Jesuit. He was sent as a missionary to
England and laboured there for nearly ten years. He practised
mortification, was devoted to meditation, and showed much zeal in the
ministry. While acting as chaplain to Lady Arundell, he was arrested on
24 April, 1594, at Chideock Castle, by the sheriff of Dorsetshire. Thomas
Bosgrave, a relative of the Arundell family, met them and offered Fr.
John his own hat, as the priest had been dragged out bareheaded (as a
sign of disrespect). Thereupon Bosgrave was also arrested. Two servants
of the castle, Blesseds John (or Terence) Carey and Patrick Salmon,
natives of Dublin, shared the same fate on 4th July 1594 and together the
four are known as the Dorchester martyrs.

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Fr. Ralph Corby (Corbington)

Blessed Ralph Corby (Corbington): He was born of English parents on

25th March 1598 and spent his early years in Maynooth Co. Kildare
where his father was employed by the Countess of Kildare. The family
moved back to his father’s native place in Durham. All members of the
family took vows including his parents. After harassment, he moved to
Saint Omer in France and later in Spain. He was ordained a seminary
priest and then joined the Jesuits in 1631. He returned to England to
minister to the covert English Catholics in Durham. He was arrested
with his friend Fr. John Duckett. A reprieve was apparently won for
him, however he refused it as he felt Fr. Duckett was the younger man
but Fr. Duckett refused wishing him to accept. They died together in
Tyburn 7 th Sept 1644 in middle of English civil war when the
parliamentarians put them to death, being hanged, drawn and quartered
and their bodies burned to avoid relics being taken.

Fr. Charles Mihan (Meehan)

Blessed Charles Mihan (Meehan): a Franciscan left Ireland for the
Continent due to persecution and spent some time there. On
travelling back to Ireland, he was shipwrecked in Wales. He said:
“Now God Almighty is pleased I should suffer martyrdom, his Holy
Name be praised, since I die for my religion. But you have no Right to
put me to death in this Country, though I confessed myself to be a
priest, for you seized me as I was going to my native country Ireland,
being driven at Sea on this Coast, for I never used my function in
England before I was taken, however God forgive you, as I do and
shall always pray for you, especially for those that were so good to
me in my distress, I pray God bless our King, and defend him from his
enemies, and convert him to the Holy Catholic Faith, Amen.” He was
tried and hanged, drawn and quartered at Ruthin on 12th of August
1679.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall
be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor
pain any more, for the former things have passed away.
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Rev 21:4
 Litany to the martyred saints of Ireland:
Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy, Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy,. Lord have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
The refrain is: Have mercy on us.
God, the Father of Heaven: have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world: ,, ,, ,,
God the Holy ghost, Sanctifier of the Elect: ,, ,, ,,
Holy Trinity, one God, ,, ,, ,,
The refrain is: Pray for us.

Holy Mary, Queen of Ireland:

Holy Mary, Queen of saints and martyrs:
Holy Angels, Guardians of Ireland:
Glorious St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland:
St. Brigid, Muire na nGael:
St. Columba, Saint of the Eucharist, pray for us:
St. Oliver Plunkett: Archbishop of Armagh, primate of all Ireland:
Model for Irish laity, priests and bishops:
Whose heart was on fire with zeal for God:
Who openly risked death by returning home:
Peacemaker and reconciler in disputes:
Who reformed the Irish Church:
Who forgave his betrayers and persecutors:
Who laid down his life for his flock:
Hanged, drawn and quartered, at Tyburn:
Blessed Dermot Hurley: Archbishop of Cashel:
Who exchanged a brilliant academic career for a life on the run:
Who sacrificed himself to save his host: Baron Flemming of Slane:
Tortured by burning rather than deny his faith:
Who refused all bribes or temptations of high office:
Who proclaimed his innocence from the gallows:
Blessed Conor O’ Devany: Bishop of Down and Connor:
Who applied the reforms of Council of Trent over 30 years of oppression,
Who endured starvation in prison to the point of near death:
Who stayed when his protectors left in the ‘Flight of the Earls’:
Who at 80 years of age, refused pardon and bribes to spare his life:
Who at the gallows encouraged everyone to keep the Faith:

Bishop Patrick Healy: Bishop of Mayo and Franciscan priest:

Who was betrayed, tortured and tried in secret.:
Who refused enticements and bribes of high office:
Who exhorted bystanders at his hanging to remain faithful.
Who encouraged and supported Fr. Conn O’Rourke before death.

Bishop Albert Terence O Brien:

Bishop of Emly, Provincial, Dominican priest:
Who stayed with the people of Limerick during its siege:
Who was captured attending to the sick:
Who endured death by strangulation at Gallow’s Green in Limerick:

Fr.s MacKenraghty, Kearney and Tirry: Three martyrs of Clonmel:

Imprisoned and executed for celebrating the Sacraments
Where vocations surged after their deaths:

Fr. Peter Higgins, Dominican Priest:

Who protected protestant settlers from catholic attacks:
Who saved Rev.William Pilsworth from lynching by a Catholic mob:
Who rebuked catholics who were attacking protestants,
Whom Rev. Pilsworth and many protestants tried to save from hanging:
Who arrested without trial, forgave his executioners and joyfully praised
God at the gallows:

Fr. Patrick O’ Loughran: Chaplain to Hugh O Neill’s household:

Who returned to Ireland after the Flight of the Earls,
Who freely on arrest admitted to being a priest and was executed with
Archbishop O’ Devaney at George’s Hill.
Br. Dominic Collins: Jesuit scholastic
Who exchanged success in the military for service to God,
Who stayed nursing the sick when others fled the plague,
Who was kept alive by the Crown to serve them militarily,
Who refused to renounce his vocation under torture,
Publicly hanged at Youghal Co. Cork,

Margaret Ball: (laywoman, mother, wife)

Defender and protector of priests:
Arrested by her son Walter, Lord Mayor of Dublin,
Dragged publicly to Dublin Castle on a hurdle and died aged 70 in prison,

Francis Taylor: Lord Mayor of Dublin: Defender and protector of priests:

Imprisoned without trial,
Who refused to take the Oath of Supremacy,
Who died after seven years in prison,

Matthew Lambert, (baker) Robert Myler, Patrick Cavanagh, Edmund

Cheevers and two unknown sailors : Martyrs of Wexford)
Who attempted to arrange safe passage for a priest,
Who were arrested and publicly defended their faith,
Tortured hanged drawn and quartered in Wexford:

Closing Prayer:

Lord be with us as we pray for Ireland through the intercession of her

saints and martyrs, who laid down their lives for You and Your people. We
beg you again for the gift of peace and true reconciliation in Ireland and
thank you for the courage of all peacemakers past and present.

Grant that through their merits and prayers we may be a living Church as
witnessed by the way we live our lives, by restoring all things in Christ. We
pray for all those hurt or abused in this country, that they may receive
your profoundly healing touch. Pour out Your Spirit on your people, your
clergy and laity in a new Pentecost. Lord may we never abandon You but
defend the Faith of our Fathers with love, as did the martyrs before us.
Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.
With special thanks to Monsignor John J. Hanly,
postulator of the cause of the Irish martyrs and
Fr. Steven Redmond S.J. who has written on the
Dublin and Wexford martyrs in ‘So Great a
Cloud’ , A record of Christian Witness.

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